District Fishing Report: 9.27.13

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Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County): Last week's 3-inch rain brought fresh steelhead in from the lake, and those that were in the creeks advanced south of Route 5 on the mile creeks and south of Route 20 on Elk Creek. On Walnut Creek, silver bullets were taken and released on crawler-tipped Mini Foo jigs. In Presque Isle Bay, crappies took tube baits, and Dave Lefebre and Barry Hohn won the Great Lakes Largemouth Tournament with four bass weighing 12.5 pounds, including a 3.5-pound lunker, caught on Rapala crankbaits and jigs. Perch were at 55 feet west of Walnut Creek and walleye were deep and moving west.

Elsewhere in the Great Lakes area: On Aug. 28 in Lake Ontario, fishing out of Olcott, N.Y., Mary Ellen Fosbrink of Delmont placed second among 4,700 anglers in the 2013 Fall Lake Ontario Counties tournament, steelhead division, with a fish caught at 70 feet in 213 foot waters. David L. Presutti of Beaver, Pa., caught a 55-inch, 38-pound musky on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair.

Pymatuning Lake (Crawford County): Despite low pressure, some walleye were taken on blade baits, crappies were moving to more shallow waters and bluegills were active in 6-8 feet.

French Creek (Crawford, Mercer, Venango counties): Throughout the region, conditions were perfect for fall smallmouths and anglers reported impressive catches on live bait. Walleye were active.

Oil Creek (Venango County): A state stocking of rainbow trout is scheduled for Oct. 1 on the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only stretch from Petroleum Center Bridge to the Columbia Farm railroad bridge. The tanker truck meets 9:30 a.m. at the Drake's Well parking lot.

Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County): Stan Teitelbaum won the Sept. 23 Bass Masters of Crawford County tournament with three largemouths totalling 11 pounds, including a 6.32-pound lunker -- a 2013 club record.

Clarion River (Clarion County): Anglers reported good smallmouth catches on live bait or jigs.

Allegheny River (Clarion County): Smallmouths and walleye were active with high-quantity catches reported. Channel cats were caught at night.

Allegheny River (Armstrong County): The state reports that a 56-inch flathead catfish was caught and released near Templeton.

Allegheny River (Allegheny County): On Wednesday, fishing upstream from The Point, Michael Kirshenbaum of Squirrel Hill landed an 18-inch channel cat and a 22-inch carp, both caught on McDonald's french fries. I'm lovin' it.

Monongahela River (Allegheny County): Savanna Sauer, 21, caught a 35-inch carp at the Mon Wharf parking lot, Downtown, on McDonald's french fries. What's that about having it your way?

Ohio River (Allegheny County): Brooke Zuber caught her first big smallmouth near the Emsworth back channel on the Coraopolis side, where good size bass were taking shiners.

Deer Lakes, Deer Creek (Allegheny County): Reports of a python in the park were not accurate. The state Fish and Boat Commission identified the animal as a northern water snake, a native species. Deer Lakes will get a state stocking of rainbow trout Oct. 3. In Deer Creek, the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area from the Route 910 bridge to downstream of the Rose Ridge Golf Course will get rainbows the same day. Tanker truck meets 1 p.m. at North Park Lake boat house.

Pine Creek (Allegheny County): The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only stretch from the abandoned railroad bridge off Bryant Road to 150 yards downstream from Mt. Royal Blvd. will get a state stocking of rainbows Oct. 3. Meets 1 p.m. at North Park Lake boat house.

Report your catch at fishingreport@post-gazette.com. Include angler's name, age (for children), place of residence, species, size, body of water, date of catch, phone number (not for publication) and optional details.